Collapsible tube shield



Feb. 27, 1962 J. D. CROOM, JR

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SHIELD Filed Dec. 7, 1959 INVENTOR. aawfizvazfi I i Y W K NQIY. I J

United States Patent C) 3,022,920 COLLAPSIBLE TUBE SHIELD James D. Croom, In, 625 W. Kivett St., Ashehoro, N.C. Fiied Dec. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 857,979 2 Claims. (Cl. 222105) This invention relates to collapsible tubes, such as used for liquids, semi-liquids, or any paste-like product such as tooth paste, shaving cream, and similar products, and in particular a sleeve or jacket, one end of which is open, and the opposite end provided with an opening for the neck of a tube, the sleeve being designed to fit snugly over the outlet end of a tube with the neck extended through the opening whereby it is impossible to squeeze the tube at the outlet end so that it is necessary to first use material from the portion of the tube adjacent the sealed end, as in using the tube, it is necessary to squeeze the end opposite to the end on which the outlet neck or nipple is positioned.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for preventing tubes of paste and the like being flattened at the outlet end whereby paste remaining in the tube is forced into the closed end thereof.

In using collapsible tubes, and particularly, tubes for tooth paste, liquid and similar products the tubes are squeezed at points adjacent the outlet nipple or neck and with continued use of tubes in this manner the wall of the tube breaks before paste in the major portion of the tube is used. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates protecting the outlet end of a collapsible tube with a rigid shield making it necessary to first squeeze the closed end of the tube until all or substantially all material is forced therefrom.

The object of this invention is, therefore, a provide a shield for a collapsible tube wherein the shield may readily be placed over the end of the tube on which the outlet nipple is positioned and retained in position by a conventional tube cap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shield for a collapsible tube on which advertising, in addition to advertising on the surface of the tube, may be positioned.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a shield for preventing use of paste in the nipple or outlet end of a collapsible tube in which the shield may be supplied with the tube or distributed by a different manufacturer as an advertising medium.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible tube shield or protector which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies an elongated body of rigid plastic, metal, or other suitable material which may be cylindrical or of other shapes in cross section and an end portion with an opening in the end portion whereby with the body positioned over the outlet end of a collapsible tube the neck or nipple of the tube extends through the opening in the end of the tube.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken'in connection with the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view showing a collapsible tube, a shield designed to be positioned on the tube, and

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a cap patterned to be threaded on the neck or nipple extended from the outlet end of the tube.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the shield taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 looking toward the end of the shield with the frustro-conical shaped section positioned thereon.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section through the shield and cap showing the shield and cap positioned on a col lapsible tube, the tube being shown in elevation.

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view of the shield taken on line 44 of FIGURE 1 and looking toward the open end of the shield.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating the shield.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved collapsible tube shield of this invention includes a cylindrical body 10 and a frustro-conical shaped section 11 positioned in one end of the body.

The frustro-conical shaped section 11 is provided with an opening 12 through which a nipple or neck 13 on the outlet end of a collapsible tube 14 extends, and as illustrated in FIGURE 3, a conventional tube cap 15, which is threaded on the neck 13, secures the sleeve or shield 10 in position on the collapsible tube.

The shield 10 is preferably formed of a rigid plastic, aluminum, or other metal and with the shield in position on a collapsible tube 14, particularly as illustrated in FIGURE 3, it is substantially impossible to squeeze the portion of the tube 14 from which the neck 13 extends, making it necessary to squeeze the opposite end of the tube to obtain toothpaste, shaving cream, or the like from the end of the neck. By this means material is used from the sealed or closed end of the tube with the opposite end remaining intact or in a cylindrical position. After use of all material from the sealed or closed end of the collapsible tube, the shield 10 is removed and the sealed end may be rolled or folded to prevent the return of material to said closed end. As noted in FIGURE 3, the body 10 extends about half way down the length of tube 14 leaving the lower end or bottom half of the tube available for squeezing at all times.

With the outlet end of a collapsible tube protected by a shield in this manner the possibility of the wall of the tube breaking before material is used therefrom is substantially obviated.

The shield may be provided in different sizes to compensate for collapsible tubes of different sizes and the length of the tube may also be regulated or adjusted to correspond with the will of the manufacturer.

The shield may be cylindrical or of any other shape in cross section and may be solid or perforated as may be desired.

It will be understood that modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: t

1. The combination with a collapsible tube having a threaded neck, of a shield for said tube, said shield comprising an elongated cylindrical body of rigid material embracing said tube and having an open lower end, said tube extending through said open lower end so that the lower end of said tube may be manually graspedand squeezed, an inwardly extended section on the upper end Patented Feb. 27, 19fi2 of said body and having a central opening formed therein, said tube being freely slidable into said body, a cap threaded on said tube neck and overlapping said central opening for retaining said tube when positioned within said body, said tube being freely slidable and withdraw- 5 able from said body when said cap is removed.

2. The combination according to claim 1 and wherein. said body extends from said threaded neck about one-half way down the length of said tube, leaving the lowerhalf of the tube available at all times for squeezing and col- 10 lapsing thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Smart Oct. 12, 1915 Turner Oct. 2, 1923 Marshall Apr. 1, 1952 Knoblock Mar. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain- Apr. 22, 1931 France Mar. 4, 1957 

